War from the Ground Up: Ukrainian Soldiers Speak about their Experiences (5/4/26 SWJ Event)

We are honored to announce our very first Small Wars Journal Event. This event is co-sponsored by Cactus and Tryzub, the Center for American Institutions, the Future Security Initiative, Inter Populum, the Melikian Center, and the Ukrainian American ASU Alumni Club.

A delegation of Ukrainian soldiers will share firsthand accounts from the front lines of the ongoing war in Ukraine during an upcoming in-person discussion at Arizona State University. “War from the Ground Up: Ukrainian Soldiers Speak about Their Experiences” will provide a practitioner-level perspective on modern conflict, grounded in lived experience.

In February 2022, Russia engaged in a mass invasion of Ukraine. Many experts believed that because Russia had one of the largest armies in the world they would rapidly defeat the Ukrainian military. In fact, Ukraine successfully repelled the initial invasion and has generally held off large scale Russian advances since, leading to a brutal war with a large frontline in eastern Ukraine and daily attacks by missiles and drones in many parts of the country. The war has been devastating in terms of casualties, and has defined Ukrainian life for the past 4 years. Many Ukrainians, including students, professionals of all types, and people from every walk of life (people generally around the ages of ASU undergraduate and graduate students), have had to join government efforts to support the war, including as soldiers. Come listen to the stories and ask questions of a visiting delegation of three front-line Ukrainian soldiers.

This event will feature Sr. Lt. Mykola Melnyk, Sr. Soldier-Operator Denys Haida, & Sr. Soldier-Operator Oleh Bonchynskyi, who will discuss combat conditions, adaptation under pressure, and the realities of fighting in a high-intensity, technology-enabled war.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers during a Q&A session.

Event Details

Date: Monday, May 4
Time: 12:30–1:30 PM
Location: Social Sciences Building 229, Arizona State University (Tempe Campus): 951 Cady Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281
Registration: Register Here

Featured Speakers

Sr. Lt. Mykola Melnyk — Company Commander, 47th OMBR; Founder and Director, Brave Children of Ukraine; PhD in Law, Kyiv National University

Sr. Soldier-Operator Denys Haida — Decorated servicemember; former member of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps; prior civilian roles include bartender and carpenter

Sr. Soldier-Operator Oleh Bonchynskyi — Co-Founder, Khodoriv Organization to Support ATO Veterans; decorated servicemember; former agricultural production specialist